Our Canada based Law Firm is staffed with more than 25 licensed lawyers, licensed immigration consultants and technical personnel. Our firm represents international celebrities in the fashion industry and performing arts as well as some of North America’s largest corporations in their immigration and staffing projects.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new requirement for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, whether to visit the country directly or to pass through in transit.

For information on important changes to the LMIA application process, click here. (Important Changes to the LMIA Application Process).

Jobs Falling Under International Accords

Temporary foreign worker applicants applying to work in a job that falls under one of the following free trade accords do not require an LMIA:

North American Free Trade Accord (NAFTA)

Canada-Chile Free Trade Accord

Canada-Peru Free Trade Accord

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Accord

Canada- Korea Free Trade Accord

The General Accord on Trades and Services

There are also non-trade related international accords and organizations that allow foreign workers to work in Canada without a LMIA. These accords and groups are:

Accords between Canada and other countries concerning airline workers

Members of the Airline Telecommunication & Information Services (SITA)

Workers under the Canada-Bermuda Memorandum of Understanding for Professional Trainees

Workers under the Canada-USA Understanding of Arrangement for IRS employees

Employees of the Cooperative Waterfowl Survey & Banding Program.

Public Safety Canada workers

Workers entering Canada to co-produce a film

Participants in the Fulbright Program between Canada and the USA

Members of the International Air Transport Association

Employees of the International Pacific Halibut Commission

Liaison Officers working in the Canada-Jamaica Seasonal Agricultural Program

Workers under the Canada-Malaysia Professional Accounting Trainees Program

Members of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)

Members of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC)

Members of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)

Workers under the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)

Members of the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC)

Persons entering Canada to work at Roosevelt Campobello National Park.

Workers under the Scientific and Technical Cooperation Accord between Canada and Germany

Employees of Telefilm

USA Government workers

Jobs Falling Under Domestic Accords

There are certain programs created by accords between the Canadian Federal Government and the Canadian provincial/territorial governments that allow foreign workers to bypass the LMIA requirement. These programs include:

1.Provincial/territorial nomination programs:Under these programs, a worker may be issued a work permit without an LMIA if he/she:

Has received nomination for permanent residence from a provincial government AND

Is employed in the nominating province or has a job offer from an employer in the nominating province

In order for this rule to apply, though, the foreign national’s work permit application must include:

The Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) form. The form may be found here.

Proof that the employer has paid the required fee

A copy of the nomination letter from the provincial/territorial government. The letter must show that the foreign worker has been nominated for permanent residence by the province

A statement from the nominating province that: identifies the job, provides information on the employer and proves that all requirements for the issuance of a work permit have been met. These work permit requirements include:

That the nominated worker is urgently required by the employer

That the job offer is genuine

That the job being offered will create economic benefits for the province

That the job is not part-time or seasonal

That the wages and working conditions of the job would be enough to attract a Canadian citizen

Applications that do not include the requirements mentioned above will be refused.

The validity length of a work permit issued under this program will be the same as the length of the offered job. If the job offer is for a permanent position, the work permit will be issued for two years at most.

Spouses or common-law partners of work permit holders who have been nominated for permanent residence by a province can obtain an open work permit that will be valid for as long as their partner’s work permit is valid. For more information on open work permits, click here. (Open work permits)

2. The Province of Ontario Initiative: Open Work Permits for Master’s and PhD graduates: A foreign worker must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for an open work permit under this program.

Have a Master’s or PhD degree

Be nominated for permanent residence in Ontario under the Pilot Masters Graduate Stream or the PhD Graduate Stream of the International Student Category

Live in Ontario or plan to live in Ontario while the work permit is valid

Hold a valid temporary resident permit, or, if living in Canada, be eligible to apply for the renewal of a temporary resident permit. If the person has left Canada OR is ineligible to apply for the renewal of a temporary resident permit, he/she must apply under this program at a Canadian visa office abroad or at a Canadian port of entry

Receive a letter of support issued by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

Open work permits under this program are only valid for work in the province of Ontario. The duration of open work permits under this program is 18 months, or until the expiry date of the worker’s passport, whichever is shorter.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.